Rodolphe clatjghton



(.No Model.)

R. OLAUGHTON. TRUNK FASTENING 0R LOOK. I

N0; 575,825. Patented Jan. 26, .1897.

wi/bme ww UNITED STATES ATENT ()FFIcE.

RODOLPHE CLAUGHTON, OF W'ASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TRUNK FASTENING OR LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,825, dated January26, 1897. Application filed September 5 1896. Serial No 604,964. (Nomodel.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RODOLPHE CLAUGHTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Trunk Fastenings or Locks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fastenings or locks for trunks, valises, and thelike,and more particularly is it adapted for use in connection with aso-called telescoping trunk or valise; and the object is to provide asimple, cheap, and effective means for securing or fastening such trunksor valises under all conditions; and to these ends it consists in thevarious features of construction and arrangement substantially ashereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective viewof a twopart telescoping trunk or valise separated. Fig. 2 is anenlarged transverse partial section through the center of the lowercase, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the top case.

While my improved fastening device or look may be used in many andvarious connections and for many and various purposes, it being modifiedin details to suit-the requirements of any particular case, as aboveintimated it is more especially intended for use in connection with theso-callec telescoping trunks, bags,or valises, and I have thereforeillustrated my invention as applied to such a trunk; and I will nowproceed to describe in detail its construction and arrangement, so thatthose skilled in the art will understand the same and be enabled to makeuse of the invention.

It is well known that the ordinary telescoping trunk or bag isexceedingly light, cheap, and desirable for traveling purposes, butheretofore it has been open to the objection that there were nosatisfactory means provided by which it could be securely fastened orlocked so as to prevent unwarranted interference with the contents, andI have provided means whereby this can be readily accomplished, andwhich will permit of the trunk being utilized to the best advantage,that is, it may be partially or wholly filled,

so that the two parts fit closely together or are in their expandedposition.

A A represent the twoportions of an 01- dinary telescoping trunk orvalise, which M will be styled trunk hereinafter for convenience, theupper portion A of Which fits over and practically incloses the sides ofthe lower portion A. This may ,be provided with an ordinary handle Aand, if desired, with the usual outside end straps A and, of course, itmay be made of any suitable and desirable material.

Arranged to connect the upper part of the sides of the lower section Ais a strap B. This may be arranged in any desired position and attachedin any well-known manner, and is of sufficient length to cover thearticles in the box, whether they extend above the upper rim or edgethereof or not. This strap'serves a number of functions in that it tendsto hold the articles compactly in position in the trunk and also servesas a means of supporting one portion of the fastening device.

Mounted on the strap B is a sleeve 0, arranged to slide on the strap, soas to be adjusted at any desired point. Connected to this sleeve is apivoted catch D, which is free to rotate on the sleeve and is providedwith one or more notches din its sides. Pivotally connected to thiscatch is a hasp E, provided with an eye efor the reception of the boltof an ordinary lock, when used.

The upper portion A of the trunk is provided with a slotted opening F,prefeiably near its center and preferably being in the form of ametallic slotted plate F, having an opening or slot f of a sizesufficient to permit the passage of the catch and hasp,when used, whenturned in the proper direction, but of a width to form bearings for thecatch when turned in the position shown in Fig. 3. That 'is, therecesses d of the catch D embrace the edges of the opening f, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2.

The upper portion A may be provided With any suitable locking device Gfor the reception of the hasp, so that the latter can be securely lockedagainst unauthorized opening.

With this construction the arrangement and operation of the device willreadily be understood. Supposing the portion A to be packed with thedesired articles, the strap B is adjusted, and the sleeve 0 is movedupon the strap so that it will occupy a central position, or a positioncoinciding with the opening F in the top portion. It is then turnedtransversely to the length of the trunk, as shown in Fig. 1, and theportions A and A are forced together, telescoping one within the other,and the hasp and catch will project through the opening F. \Vhen this isdone, the catch D is turned a quarter of a revolution, causing therecesses (l to engage the sides of the opening f, and the parts of thetrunk are thereby secured together. The hasp E is then turned down, asindicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and its eye 6 enters the opening inthe lock l and is secured in the usual manner. In this way it will beseen that not onl; are the portions A and A se curely held together bythe catch D, sleeve 0, and strap B, engaging the opening F, but bylocking the hasp unauthorized access to the trunk is prevented.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The combination with the strap, sleeve and pivotedcatch, of the slotted plate, and means for uniting the catch and plate,substantially as described.

2. The combination with the strap, sleeve and pivoted catch havingrecesses, of the slotted plate, the sides of which are adapted to enterthe recesses in the catch, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the strap, the sliding sleeve, and catch pivotedthereto having recesses, of a hasp pivoted to the catch, a slotted plateto engage the catch, and a lock to secure the hasp, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

F. L. FREEMAN, \V. O. DUVALL.

CLAUGIITON.

